In 1971, Ken debuted as an enka-oriented singer with a single "Daitokai no Yasagure On'na". In 1975, after the release of several charted singles, she gained the first outstanding commercial success with a song "Guzu", which was written by Ryudo Uzaki and his wife Yoko Aki. "Abayo", a song written by Miyuki Nakajima became the most successful single for Ken, selling more than 600,000 copies. In 1976, the prize-winning song reached number-one spot on the Oricon, Japan's most eminent chart.
In addition to the success as a musician, she also obtained popularity as a tarento in the mid 1970s, through her comical actings on the multiple TV shows including Kakkurakin Daihousou!!.
After the temporary hiatus of its career in 1977, she returned to the Japanese entertainment industry with a hit tune "Kamome wa Kamome". The melancholic ballad written by Nakajima became known as one of her signature songs, finally sold in excess of 300,000 units.
In 1982, she gained huge commercial success as a singer again with a cover version of the Southern All Stars' song "Natsu wo Akiramete", winning several Japanese music prizes. The song is her last top-ten hit solo single so far.
Through her long-term career as a comedic TV personality, she has released several novelty singles with other performers such as Ken Shimura. The song "Natsuzakari Ho no Ji Gumi" recorded with an idol singer Toshihiko Tahara is the last top-40 hit single for Ken on the Japanese record charts.
Kanashii Onna
研ナオコ Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
いつも ささやかな 勘違い
笑ってはゴマかした
いつもの別れの パターンね
駅からの帰り道
コンビニの 明りまぶしくて
少しばかり淋しくて
雑誌なんか立ち読みしたわ
秋物のコートなんか着て
アンニュイな笑顔した
いい女に嘆息一つついてみた
悲しい女は 誰からも
程々に愛され
けれども 憎まれない
いつもその程度の恋ばかり
抱かれたいつもりなの
信じてないわけじゃないのに
茶化しては おこらせる
いつもの別れのパターンね
改札のところまで
送ってくれても いいじゃない
あやまれない せつなさが
胸の中で 行ったり来たり
終電車を降りれば
何故か小走りになっていた
自分の部屋の扉
鍵を差し込んだ
その時に涙が出た
悲しい女は 誰からも
程々に愛され
けれども 憎まれない
いつもその程度の恋ばかり
悲しい女は 誰からも
程々に愛され
けれども 憎まれない
いつもその程度の恋ばかり
The lyrics of 研ナオコ's song "悲しい女" (Kanashii Onna) tell the story of a woman who is trapped in a cycle of unfulfilling relationships. The first verse describes her romantic encounters during the summer, which she mistakenly interprets as real love. She laughs it off, as it has become a familiar pattern for her to experience these temporary flings that always end in separation. Walking back from the train station, she feels a sense of loneliness under the bright lights of the convenience store. While flipping through a magazine, she sees a picture of a woman wearing a fall coat and projecting a nonchalant smile. In an attempt to mimic this image of a sophisticated and desirable woman, she lets out a sigh. The chorus conveys the sad reality that despite being loved moderately by others, she never experiences a deep and lasting connection. She continuously finds herself in these superficial relationships, longing for something more meaningful.
In the second verse, the woman admits that she wants to be held by someone but doesn't want to be seen as gullible. She often jokes around, causing arguments and following the same pattern of separation as before. Even if the person she's with takes her to the ticket gate, she believes it would be better to be sent off completely. The unresolved sadness within her heart keeps oscillating back and forth. When she gets off the last train, she inexplicably starts rushing home. Finally, as she inserts the key into her apartment door, tears well up in her eyes. This moment represents a culmination of her longing for genuine love and the realization that she is always stuck in relationships that never truly fulfill her.
Overall, "悲しい女" portrays the struggles of a woman who continually finds herself in shallow relationships but yearns for a deeper connection. It highlights the emotional rollercoaster of temporary love, the moments of loneliness, and the eventual acceptance of a recurring cycle.
Line by Line Meaning
夏の日の恋ならば
If it's a summer day love
いつも ささやかな 勘違い
Always a small misunderstanding
笑ってはゴマかした
Laughing as if it's nothing
いつもの別れの パターンね
The usual pattern of parting ways
駅からの帰り道
On the way back from the station
コンビニの 明りまぶしくて
The convenience store's bright lights
少しばかり淋しくて
Feeling a little lonely
雑誌なんか立ち読みしたわ
I read magazines standing there
ひらいたグラビアに
In the open gravure
秋物のコートなんか着て
Wearing a fall coat and such
アンニュイな笑顔した
Putting on a nonchalant smile
いい女に嘆息一つついてみた
Trying to sigh like a graceful woman
悲しい女は 誰からも
A sad woman is loved by no one
程々に愛され
Loved moderately
けれども 憎まれない
Yet not hated
いつもその程度の恋ばかり
Always that level of love
抱かれたいつもりなの
I pretend to want to be embraced
信じてないわけじゃないのに
Not that I don't believe
茶化しては おこらせる
Teasing and making you mad
いつもの別れのパターンね
The usual pattern of parting ways
改札のところまで
Until the ticket gate
送ってくれても いいじゃない
It would be nice if you could walk me to the ticket gate
あやまれない せつなさが
The inexpressible sadness
胸の中で 行ったり来たり
Going back and forth in my heart
終電車を降りれば
When I get off the last train
何故か小走りになっていた
For some reason, I'm running a little
自分の部屋の扉
The door to my own room
鍵を差し込んだ
I inserted the key
その時に涙が出た
That's when the tears came out
悲しい女は 誰からも
A sad woman is loved by no one
程々に愛され
Loved moderately
けれども 憎まれない
Yet not hated
いつもその程度の恋ばかり
Always that level of love
悲しい女は 誰からも
A sad woman is loved by no one
程々に愛され
Loved moderately
けれども 憎まれない
Yet not hated
いつもその程度の恋ばかり
Always that level of love
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: tanimura shinji
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind